Top stop for slide fasteners



June 10, 1947. c, GOULD 2,422,091

TOP STOP FOR SLIDE FA STENERS Filed Sept. 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR Clarence D. Gould June 10 1947. V c. o. GOULD 2,422,091

TOP STOP FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Sept. 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVRN TOR Clarencefl. Gould Patented June 10, 1947 TOP STOP FOB- SLIDE FASTENERS Clarence D. Gould, Bronx, N. Y., asslgnor to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 2, 1944, Serial No. 552,491

Claims.

This invention relates to slide fasteners and, particularly, to an improved top stop therefor.

Oftentimes, it is desirable, in certain applications of slide fasteners, to provide means for 0-btaining a quick opening of the fastener by tearing or stripping action, 1. e., without manipulating the slider, for example, in flying suits, sleeping bags, etc., especially in the case of emergency. Such a fastener is commonly known as the quick exit or releasing type. In order to obtain such a result, it is customary to provide a top stop which will act normally to limit the closing movement of the slider when the fastener is opened and closed in the conventional manner by the slider, but which will permit the slider to pass to such a position that the fastener may be instantly stripped open by applying lateral force to the stringers, and it is to such a top stop that the present invention relates.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved top stop for slide fasteners which functions normally to limit the closing movement of the slider, but which is adapted to be automatically displaced by continued pressure of the same, so that the slider may pass to a position thereabove, thereby permitting the fastener to be stripped open by a lateral force.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved stop for slide fasteners of the quick releasing type, which is small and compact and disposed substantially in the plane of the fastener elements, thereby eliminating any objectionable protruding portions, which is characteristic of other such top stops heretofore suggested and used.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved top stop which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and which can be easily and conveniently attached to thestringers and, at the same time, a top stop which is eflicient and eilective in its use.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig.) is a plan view of the upper or closing end of a slide fastener. having incorporated therewith a stop member in accordance with the present invention, showing the slider in its normally closed position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view similar taFig. 1, with the top wing of the slider removed, showing the position the stop member assumes when the slider is disposed in its normally closed position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1, showing the slider moved to position above my improved stop member and completely disengaged from one of the stringers so as to permit opening of the fastener by a stripping action;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of my improved member; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a conventional type of slide fastener consisting generally oi a pair of stringer tapes 2, having a series of spaced-apart interlocking elements 3, attached to the opposed beaded edges thereof. 0n the fastener elements, there is mounted for longitudinal movement in either direction, a slider generally designated at l, which is adapted to be moved in opposite directions to open and close the fastener in a wellknown manner. Such a slider consists generally of spaced upper and lower wings 5 and t, respectively, having inwardly extending flange portions 1 arranged integral therewith along the marginal sides thereof, and interconnected at one end thereby by a neck portion 8, so as to provide substantially a Y-shaped channeled body member. Any conventional means may be used for attaching a pull tab or member to theslider body for manipulating the same and in the present instance, there is shown a longitudinally extending lug 9 arranged centrally of the top wing 5 to which there is slidably and pivotally attached a pull member l0.

There is attached to the beaded edge of one of the stringers 2 at the upper or closing end thereof and at a point immediately beyond the endmost fastener element 3 thereof, any conventional type top stop II, which is adapted to prevent removal of the slider from the top of that stringer. It will be seen that the stringer to which the top stop it is attached, is slightly longer than the other stringer or, in other words, the series of fastener elements on this stringer extend beyond the fastener element on the other stringer for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

According to the present invention there is attached to the shorter stringer 2 at a point above the endmost fastener element 3 of that stringer, the improved top stop member ll of my invention. This top stop, as shown in Figs. 2 through 5,

consists of an inherently resilientmember, prefembly a strip of spring steel bent upon itself so as to provide a U-bend attaching portion i5 which is longitudinally slotted, as at II, with one leg or end portion of the member l3 terminating in an enlarged portion i6, preferably in the form of a U-bendor curled portion, and with the other end or leg portion l'l being substantially straight. In other words, this stop member I3 is substantially ear or inverted C-shaped as shown herein. The ends of the leg or end portion I! and the enlarged end portion i6 are spaced from each other so as to provide an opening or recess I8 therebetween substantially in the plane of the fastener elements.

This top stop member I3 is attached to the shorter stringer 2 with the beaded edge thereof disposed in the slot ll thereof. The portions of the U-bend I5 on either side of the slot I 4, act as law portions and are bent inwardly toward each other so that the beaded edge of the tape is clamped securely therebetween. This top stop is positioned on the stringer so that the straight leg portion I'I thereof extends outwardly from the edge of the stringer and is of such length that it will extend between any two of the fastener elements on the opposed stringer when the fastener is completely closed, and is spaced from the endmost fastener element of that stringer substantially a distance equal to the thickness of one of the fastener elements. The enlarged or U- shaped end portion IS on the other leg of the top stop extends outwardly from the beaded edge of the stringer tape and is disposed directl next thereto with the extreme end of the leg portion preferably abutting the inner edge of the stringer. It will be understood that the top stop is substantially the same thickness as the fastener elements, so as to be disposed substantially in the plane thereof, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. If desired, a plurality of spaced elements or hog rings (two in the present instance), may be attached to the beaded edge of the stringer at a point above the stop for the purpose of guiding the same into and through the slider channel.

The improved top stop of my invention functions in the following manner. When the slider l is moved upwardly to close the fastener, it is manipulated by the pull member with an ordinary pulling force until the endmost fastener elements onthe longer stringer and the top stop l3 of the present invention. enter the channel of the slider and are disposed in the mouth thereof, or at the point of divergence of the Y-shaped channel substantially in the center thereof, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. At this point. it will be seen that the flange portions 1 of the slider body which act as guides, force the top stop into engagement with one of the fastener elements 3 on the longer stringer with the nose or end portion of the opposed fastener element being disposed in the opening or recess ill of the top stop. In such position, it will be seen that the enlarged or U-shaped portion l8 of the top stop will abut the upper nose portion of this fastener element and that the straight leg portion l'l will be dis posed therebelow between this fastener element and the next succeeding element arranged therebelow. It will be understood that the over-all width of the top stop member together with this opposed fastener element when so positioned is slightly greater than the width of the slider channel or the distance between the flanges 1, thereby preventing the top stop on the shorter stringer and the series of opposed endmost fastener elethe length of the fastener, an excessive pullingforce is applied to the slider by means of the pull in a direction to further close the fastener, thereby causing the slider to pass over thetop stop ii to a position thereabove on the endmost fastener elements of the longer stringer, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that when an excessive closing force is applied to the slider and sufficient poundage has been built up, that the flange portions I of the slider force the top stop l3 and the opposed fastener element together. whereby the nose or end of this opposed fastener element tends to be moved further into the opening or recess ll of the top stop, thereby forcing the leg portions thereof apart by awedging action so as to reduce momentarily the normal combined over-all width of the top stop together with the opposed fastener element, thereby permitting the same to pass through the channel of the slider. After the top stop passes through the slider, it again assumes its normal shape and dimensions due to the inherent resiliency thereof. It will be seen that the slider in moving over the top stop l3 has passed off the end of and is completely free of the shorter stringer and is disposed only on the endmost fastener element at the upper end of the longer stringer. The fastener can now be easily and quickly opened merely by applying lateral force to oneor both of the stringers, i. e., by a stripping or tearing action, whereby the, fastener elements will automatically disengage from each other.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a top top member for permitting a quick opening or release of the fastener which can be easily and inexpensively fabricated and applied to the edge of the fastener stringers. It will be seen also that my improved top stop is of such construction that it will not interfere either with the normal operation of the fastener or with the installation of the fastener in the article with which it is to be used.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description, and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

i. In a slide fastener of the class described, ineluding a pair of stringers having a series of spaced interlocking fastener elements along the opposed edges thereof, and a channeled slider movable along said elements for engaging and disengaging the same, a top stop member arranged along the edge of one of the stringers directly opposite the fastener elements of the opposed stringer and consisting of an inherently resilient body member having a recess in the outer side thereof directly opposite the fastener elements of the opposed stringer and with which one of the fastener elements on said opposed stringer is adapted to cooperate, the combined over-all width of said top stop together with the opposed fastener elements being slightly greater than the width of the channel of said slider so as to limit ordinary movement of the slider in a direction to close the fastener when said top stop is disposed in said channel, said top stop adapted to be depressed by said slider when the same is subjected to an excessive pulling force with the fastener element directly opposite said top stop being forced wedgingly into said recess against the resilient action of said top stop thereby permitting the slider to pass over the same to a position thereabove, whereby the fastener elements may be disengaged and the fastener quickly opened by a tearing actio 2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the top stop member consists of an inherently resilient substantially O-shaped member having a slotted U-bend attaching portion with the ends thereof being spaced from each other along the edge of the stringer so as to provide an opening therebetween in which the end of one of the faster elements or the opposed stringer is adapted to be wedgingly disposed.

3. The combination as defined in' claim 1. wherein the top stop member consists of an inherently resilient arcuated member having a slotted U-bend attaching portion with the ends thereof being spaced from each other along the edge of the stringer tape so as to provide an openin therebetween in which the end of one of the fastener elements of the opposed stringer is adapted to be disposed.

4. The combination as defined in claim wherein the top stop member consists of an inherently resilient strip of material bent upon itself so as to provide a slotted U-bend attachin portion and another U-bend portion on one end thereof with the ends of said member being spaced from each other along the edge of the stringer tape so as to provide an opening therebetween in which the end of one of the fastener elements of the opposed stringer is adapted to be wedgingly disposed.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the top stop member consists of an inherently resilient substantially U-shaped body member with the end of one of the leg por ions thereof terminating in an enlarged portion disosed directly next to the stringer with the other end being substantially straight and extending outwardly from the edge thereof, said leg ends being spaced from each other along the edge of the stringer tape so as to provide an opening therebetween in which the end of one of the fastener elements of the opposed stringer is adapted to be wedglns y disposed.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1,

wherein the top stop member consists of an inherently resilient strip of material bent upon itself so as to provide a slotted U-bend attaching portion and an enlarged U-bend portion on one end thereof which is disposed directly next to the edge of the stringer tape and with the other end terminating in a straight portion. said ends being spaced from each other along the edge of the stringer tape so as to provide an opening therebetween in which the end of one of the fastener elements of the opposed stringer is adapted to be wedgingly disposed.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the stop member'consists of substantially an inherently resilient U-shaped body member with one of the leg portions thereof terminating in an enlarged portion which is adapted to abut a portion of a fastener element on the opposed stringer and with the other leg portion being substantially straight and extending outwardly from the stringer and adapted to be disposed between said abutted fastener element and the fastener element positioned therebelow on said opposed stringer, said leg ends being spaced from each other along the edge of the stringer tape so as to provide an opening therebetween in which the extreme end of said abutted fastener element is adapted to be wedgingly disposed.

8. In a slide fastener of the class described including a pair of stringers having a series of spaced interlocking fastener elements arranged along their opposed edges, a top stop member comprising a substantially slotted U-shaped member arranged on one of the stringers with the leg portions extending outwardly from the edge thereof and spaced apart so as to provide an opening therebetween in which the end of one of the fastener elements of the opposed stringer is adapted to be disposed.

9. In a slide fastener of the class described including a pair of stringers having a series of spaced interlocking fastener elements arranged along their opposed edges, a top stop member comprising substantially a slotted U-shaped member arranged on one of the stringers with one of the leg portions thereof terminating in an enlarged end portion disposed directly next to the edge of the stringer and with the other leg portion extending outwardly therefrom, the extreme outer ends of said leg portions being spaced from each other along the edge of the stringer tape so as to provide an opening therebetween in which the end of one of the fastener elements of the opposed stringer is adapted to be disposed.

10. In a slide fastener of the class described including a pair of stringers having a series of spaced interlocking fastener elements arranged along their opposed edges. a top stop member consisting of a strip of material bent upon itseli so as to provide a slotted U-bend attaching portion with one of the ends of said strip terminating in a U-shaped end portion which is disposed directly next to the edge of the stringer, and with the other end extending substantially straight outwardly therefrom, said ends being spaced apart along the edge of the stringer tape so as to provide an opening therebetween in which the end of one of the fastener elements of the opposed stringer is adapted to be disposed.

CLARENCE D. GOULD.

nnrnannoss orrnn um'rm STATE PATENTS Name Date Msrinsky Feb. 27, 1040 Number 

